Echeveria plant named &#39;AMIECH2103

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria  hybrid plant named ‘AMIECH2103’ which is characterized by a flattened globular plant profile with foliage loosely arranged in a basal rosette, a relative abundance of long and narrow foliage that is conspicuously curled upward, dark green foliage that is tipped greyed-orange to brown and fades to a light shade of yellow-green towards the base, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria setosa‘Oliver’ x Echeveria purpusorum A. Berger.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria hybriddisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIECH2103’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2021/1150, filed Apr. 26, 2021, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIECH2103’ is an interspecific hybrid seedling selectionresulting from the controlled pollination of an Echeveria setosa‘Oliver’ plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamedEcheveria purpusorum plant (not patented), the pollen parent. Thecrossing was made by the inventor in the spring of 2017 at a commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In summer of 2018, oneseedling was observed which exhibited unique growth and foliagecharacteristics. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation inorder to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristicsfirst observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability,‘AMIECH2103’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘AMIECH2103’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inthe autumn of 2018 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through four subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIECH2103’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘AMIECH2103’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘AMIECH2103’ as a new and distinct Echeveria hybridcultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIECH2103’ exhibits a flattened globular plant profile with        foliage loosely arranged in a basal rosette which eventually        forms a short, unbranched stem with age; and    -   2. ‘AMIECH2103’ exhibits a relative abundance of long, narrow        oblanceolate foliage that is conspicuously curled upward; and    -   3. ‘AMIECH2103’ exhibits mature foliage with ciliate margins and        a lightly pubescent abaxial surface; and    -   4. ‘AMIECH2103’ exhibits dark green foliage that is tipped        greyed-orange to brown and fades to a light shade of        yellow-green towards the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘AMIECH2103’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 26 week-old, shown planted inan 8.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘AMIECH2103.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIECH2103’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIECH2103’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in June of 2021describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 26 week-old‘AMIECH2103’ plants grown in 8.5 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria plants whichconsisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, andchemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug andBotrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percentshade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began tomature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to theplants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIECH2103’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIECH2103’ and comparisons with the parentplants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—6.4 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 13.8 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —            Approximately 25 weeks to produce a marketable plant in an            8.5 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a basal rosette, eventually            forming a short, unbranched stem with age; no lateral            branching.        -   Quantity of main stems.—1.        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—None.        -   Main stem dimensions.—2.0 cm long and 0.9 cm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—0.1 cm.        -   Cross section.—Rounded.        -   Aspect.—Nearly vertical.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous, glaucous, and very slightly            glossy.        -   Color, when developing.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B.        -   Color of mature stem.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B.        -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 40 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Dimensions.—6.7 cm long, 1.6 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Moderately concave and curled upward, distally.        -   Attitude.—Juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette is            held upward and outward; foliage becomes progressively more            relaxed towards the outer whorls of mature foliage which lay            nearly horizontal and curl upward at an average angle of 40            degrees, distally.        -   Apex.—Bluntly acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Ciliate with very short greyed-green hairs, nearest            to RHS 193D, and an average length of 0.2 mm; margins are            not undulate.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous with the exception of the margins; smooth            and moderately glaucous.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Lightly pubescent with very short greyed-green            hairs, nearest to RHS 193D, and an average length of 0.2 mm;            moderately glaucous.        -   Luster of the adaxial surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Luster of the abaxial surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            a RHS 137C; tipped and narrowly margined greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 193D. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface —            Green, nearest to a RHS 137C; tipped and narrowly margined            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 193D. Mature foliage, adaxial            surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137B, and fading to            yellow-green towards the base, nearest to RHS 145B; narrowly            margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C; tipped            greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 166A. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 138A and 143A,            and fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to RHS            147D; narrowly margined grey-brown, nearest to N199B; tipped            brown, nearest to RHS 200B. Venation, adaxial surface — No            visible venation. Venation, abaxial surface — No visible            venation.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

Comparisons With the Parent Plants and Closest Known Comparator

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2103’ differ from the seed parent, anEcheveria setosa ‘Oliver’ plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1 below. Echeveria setosa ‘Oliver’plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Echeveriapurpusorum plant (not patented), the pollen parent.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2103’ The seed parent. Foliage abundance.Less abundant than the More abundant than seed parent. ‘AMIECH2103’.Foliar margins. Ciliate. Entire. Pubescence of abaxial. Lightlypubescent. Glabrous. leaf surface. General coloration A darker shade ofA lighter shade of of the foliage. green, relative to the green,relative to seed parent. ‘AMIECH2103’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2103’ differ from the pollen parent,an unnamed Echeveria purpusorum plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2103’ The pollen parent. Foliage length.Longer than the Shorter than pollen parent. ‘AMIECH2103’. Foliageattitude. Conspicuously Either not curled upward or curled upward, onlyslightly curled upward, distally. distally. General coloration Darkgreen. A lighter shade of green, of the foliage relative to ‘AMIECH2103’and suffused with brown.

Comparisons With the Closest Known Comparator

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2103’ differ from the closest knowncommercial comparator, Echeveria ‘Serrana’ (not patented), in thefollowing characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2103’ ‘Serrana’ Foliage attitude.Conspicuously curled Either not curled upward or upward, distally. onlyslightly curled upward, distally. General coloration Green and tippedGreen and heavily suffused of the mature greyed-orange to with a mixtureof very dark foliage brown. brown and greyed-purple; tipped black.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriasetosa ‘Oliver’ x Echeveria purpusorum A. Berger plant named‘AMIECH2103’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.